1. Doing gigabit Ethernet over my British phone wires
The author details their success in achieving Gigabit Ethernet speeds over existing British phone wires using specialized GigaCopper adapters. Frustrated with the inconsistent performance and disconnections of powerline adapters, they sought a solution that could leverage the abundant phone sockets found in many UK homes. After extensive research, they discovered a German manufacturer producing devices capable of transmitting high-speed data over phone lines, a technology they believe is underutilized. The process involved ordering the adapters from Germany, dealing with post-Brexit import fees and Royal Mail's convoluted tracking system, and finally configuring the devices to achieve full Gigabit speeds. The article highlights the prevalence of phone sockets over Ethernet in UK new builds and existing homes, presenting a significant untapped market for such a solution. The author emphasizes the performance benefits, including stable low latency, and shares their troubleshooting journey, including a firmware patch to switch between device variants. They also discuss the complexities of British home wiring and the surprising inconsistency of installations. Ultimately, the author concludes that their GigaCopper solution is a "miracle" that provides an effective alternative to running new Ethernet cables.
The discussion reveals a general surprise and interest in the author's ability to achieve Gigabit Ethernet over phone lines, with some commenters expressing mild disbelief that the author lacked a Gigabit Ethernet-capable device for testing. There's significant curiosity about the technical underpinnings of the G.hn chipset's performance on potentially complex phone line topologies, with questions raised about its echo cancellation and frequency diversity capabilities compared to VDSL. Commenters also shared personal experiences, with some opting to replace existing phone wiring with CAT5E/CAT6 Ethernet for a more traditional Gigabit network, while others have adapted phone sockets for Ethernet in older apartment buildings. The post-Brexit import process also drew criticism and shared frustration.